One place thats always getting a fresh lick of paint is Digbeth in Birmingham.  Writers from all over come down to paint this diverse and eclectic part of the city.  Home of the Custard factory arts and media centre as well as a myriad of art and design companies pubs, clubs and places to eat Digbeth is now one of THE spots to paint in the Midlands.

We’re glad the blog rates Digbeth so highly! International artist Insa added to Digbeth’s street art repertoire this week by painting a huge mural at the Custard Factory (photo courtesy of [Princess] Gutter Floozy).

If street art is something that interests you, I’d highly recommend keeping an eye on the Floozy’s blog, which is updated every week or so. With ‘Welcome to Digbeth Bab!’ and now Insa’s mural, let’s hope this is a sign of more high-quality street art helping to entice people away from the city centre and into Digbeth.

As usual, the Filum will start at 8pm and be supported by Oscar-winning free cream cakes and tea!

Where: Aston Business School, Susan Cadbury Lecture Theatre
When: Monday, 20th February at 6pm
Film: Ghosts, directed by Nick Broomfield

Where: Costa Coffee, Bullring Lower Mall, Level 1
When: Sunday, 26th February at 7pm
Film: Blood, Sweat and T-shirts, directed by Robert McCourt

Where: Costa Coffee, Bullring Lower Mall, Level 1
When: Sunday, 11th March at 7pm
Film: Because I Am Girl, produced by Yeast Culture

Each screening will include a Q&A with an expert panel. Director of Ghosts, Nick Broomfield, will be on the panel on the 20th February.

For further information, please see the Unchosen website.

Hold onto your popcorn – it’s not long until Flatpack Festival, one of the most innovative film festivals in the country, returns to Digbeth in March.

There will be shows at the Custard Factory as well as Eastside Projects and many other venues around Birmingham. For up to date details of the programme, which are being added to regularly, visit the Flatpack Festival website.

If you want to get involved with the festival as more than just a spectator, the Flatpack’s organisers are looking for super duper volunteers! To find out more about volunteering, and the rewards of doing so, click here.

“Presenting a diverse programme of laptop performances, live coding, communicating home-made musical gadgets, sound installations, workshops and everything else in between, the Network Musical Festival boasts an international line-up including some of Birmingham’s best home-grown hi-tech musical performers.”

Held on the 27th to the 29th (with a pre festival knees up on the 26th) at several venues including The Edge, PST and Ort Cafe (not strictly in Digbeth but close enough in spirit) day tickets as well as weekend passes are available.

Midge

Where: China Town

The welcoming of the new Chinese year of the Dragon promises to be the biggest celebration China Town has ever seen!

Expect dragon dances, acrobatics, Kung Fu, fire crackers, market stalls, food and children’s rides. There will also be an extra performance space in Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Centre with special cultural performances at 1pm and 3pm.

The day will conclude with a spectacular Firework Finale complete with traditional Fire Crackers. If you don’t want to go for the whole day, or even at all, you can usually see the fireworks from Digbeth. Make friends with people on the third floor or above in the Abacus Building for a great view!

Visit the Birmingham Chinese New Year website for more information.

It may seem a long way off, but October and the Birmingham Book Festival will be here before you know it!

The festival organisers are currently running a short story competition. Try your hand at writing a story between 1000-2000 words on the theme of clocks.

The winner will recieve £100 and a writing workshop of their choice, and there are also runner-up prizes. Hurry though, the deadline for entries is 31st January 2012.

Kamila of Luthien Photography recently moved back to Birmingham where she studied English Heritage at the University of Birmingham – it is clear that Digbeth played a huge part in her studies and now in her work.

I love Kamila’s description of Digbeth on her photography blog:

“There is something fascinating this industrial area of Birmingham. Big brick buildings, long and narrow roads, corner coffee shops. You can almost feel like time stopped there for a minute. You can smell history in the air.”

Nicky recently posted about a History of Digbeth animation, and now with Digbeth being in fashion, if others ever forget Digbeth exists, at least we have the arts to remind them!